This has been a rich week for me in ministry as I've spent a lot of time with our children. I always enjoy the opportunity to give witness to the faith and share the love of Jesus with young people. On Tuesday night I was invited to return to St. Jane de Chantal Church and speak to the confirmation students and their parents on the meaning of Lent and how to properly observe the season of prayer, fasting and almsgiving. It was a graced opportunity to remind all present of the opportunity to grow closer to God, through the Church, in the Lenten season before the Sacrament of Confirmation. I explained the meaning behind Ash Wednesday, Stations of the Cross, Holy Week and fasting and almsgiving. The pastor, Fr. Robert, did an excellent job of explaining the Chrism Mass of Holy Week when the very oils, including Sacred Chrism, will be used in their confirmation.
On Wednesday night I met with the 4th through 8th CCD students at Most Holy Trinity as we prepared for and conducted Eucharistic Adoration and Benediction. The children, for the most part, had little knowledge of Adoration and Benediction so we explained every step along the way. The children all had a strong appreciation for Jesus' real presence in the Blessed Sacrament and seemed genuinely excited to grasp that He was really with us in a way that was physically evident to them. No shortcuts here; we used incense, sang the beautiful hymns of Benediction and recited the Divine Praises. After Benediction, I spent time visiting all the classrooms.
Tonight I am on the way back to St. Jane's to speak to the 1st Communion class and their moms & dads. We will again talk about Lent but in a way that hopefully will appeal to the age group.
So what an awesome and blesses week as I celebrate Jesus and our Catholic faith with our young people!
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